|
Michael P. Eddy January 4, 1999 Via Email at advisorycommittee@ftc.govSecretary RE: Advisory Committee on Online Access and Security Nomination P004807 Dear Nomination Committee Member: I would like to nominate myself for a position on the Advisory Committee on Online Access and Security. I am a patent attorney working in the Internet, software and federal criminal defense fields. I also have hosted a radio program on technology for many months on a local talk radio station, and have appeared on many local television programs specifically discussing privacy on the Internet. I have represented both consumers and high technology companies in disputes relating to technology, but I believe that some core minimal level of consumer protection is lacking and necessary to protect United States citizens using the global information network. My plans are to continue to develop several websites relating to technology issues including www.privacyreports.com, www.talkontech.com, and the search engine www.clickey.com. I believe there must be a balance between the consumers' right to privacy and the business world's right to use and exchange information. Moreover, I believe that if governmental regulations are too restrictive, companies could easily avoid regulation by outsourcing data collection, assimilation and computation/extrapolation to offshore entities where consumers would have little, if any, right to redress. Additionally, international treaties are mere contracts with foreign governments that are even more difficult to enforce or even monitor over the Internet. To be effective, any policy recommendations must carefully weigh business interests as well as consumer interests. My experience with large, small and medium sized companies, solo inventors, federal criminal defendants, and with the general high technology arena give me a diverse background which I feel could be applied to an advisory committee such as yours. Please consider myself for a position on your panel, as I would be ready to fulfill the mandate of advisory committee while at the same time, I would be able to gain some further insight into these novel and ever changing issues which interest me. Thank you for your time and if you have any further questions, I can be reached directly at (619) 884-8500. Very truly yours, /s/ Michael P. Eddy |